RICKY Hatton will name his next opponent on Monday after negotiations to face American former WBA champion Sharmba Mitchell collapsed.

Hatton's hopes of fighting Mitchell, the IBF interim champion, in front of his home crowd at the M.E.N. Arena on June 5 were dashed by the financial demands of the American's camp, according to promoter Frank Warren.

Mitchell, says Warren, ended up asking 40 per cent more to meet Hatton than he had agreed for a fight with undisputed world champion Kostya Tszyu, in Moscow, which fell through when the Russian-born Australian suffered a shoulder injury.

The Hatton-Mitchell fight looked close to being made after the Hitman from Hyde stopped late substitute Dennis Holbaek Pedersen from Denmark in six rounds at the M.E.N. Arena two weeks ago - while Mitchell won the IBF interim belt by out-pointing fellow American Mike Stewart on the same bill.

Funding

"We started talking and there was a figure mentioned," said Warren. But he added: "That nearly doubled. If he wants to put up his money he can, but I'm not financing it out of my own pocket. They came over to Manchester and saw how many people we get in, but they have to realise this isn't Las Vegas, where the casinos provide the hotels and put up expenses."

The show will go ahead without American TV channel Showtime, as well as lacking Mitchell.

Hatton will share top billing at the M.E.N. Arena with Joe Calzaghe, who moves up to light-heavyweight to challenge IBF world champion Glencoffe Johnson.

Warren believes that having the unbeaten pair of Calzaghe and Hatton on the same bill ranks as one of the biggest shows he has ever staged.

Manchester boxers Anthony Farnell, Michael Gomez, David Barnes and Stephen Foster Junior are also set to fight on the bill.